The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I firmly believe the only good reason for not reading this book is that you have honestly been living under a huge rock! This is probably the best book I've read in a really, really long time! I mean really? who comes up with this stuff? The whole idea of The Hunger Games is just preposterous, and at the same time so completely intriguing!

Imagine that every year from the ages of 12-18 you had the possiblity of being chosen to participate in a game for your life. This is the reality of life for all teens in the Panem. Each year the hunger games are played out on tv as viewers watch to see who will win, and who will never return home. What i really loved about the book was I felt like I was Katniss. I felt terrifed with every sound she heard, I was tense and nervous as she slept in the tree, I was panting and out of breathe as she ran from the fire, but I wanted to be her, I wanted to participate in the games. What an amazing adventure and a great story. I'm so glad it's not over yet.

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

Can I Play too? made me laugh out loud. Maybe I'm just a big 'ol kid, but I loved this book! Gerald, and Piggie are best friends. They decide to play catch when a new friend comes along and wants to play with them. There's only one problem, their new friend is a snake, and you can't play catch without any arms. The three friends end up experimenting so that all three can enjoy a game of catch. The dialogue that takes place between the three is witty and entertaining, and possibly even a bit sarcastic at some points, but still very cute. I immediately thought, "I have to get the Elephant and Piggie books for my 3 year old neice!" Great job yet again, Mr. Willems!

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

The Quiet Book is just that! It's a sweet book about all different types of quiest. Like, snuggle up with your teddy bear quiet, or trying to be invisible quiet, or first snow quiet, or even jelly side down quiet. This to me is the perfect bedtime/naptime story book. It's very calmy and soothing. Even the pictures are calming, the colors are muted and the drawing itself is very smooth and gentle. Going back and looking at the illustrations again, I noticed things I didn't the first time, like the cute things that were happening in the background, but nothing that would get a child "wound up" before bedtime.

The Quiet Book, highly recommended for calming, soothing and resting!

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

City Dog, is the new kid in town basically and meets and becomes fast friends with the most unlikely creature, Country Frog. The two play each others games and enjoy the spring, summer and fall, but in the winter things change. The illustrations really do a lot for this book. You can see the expression on City Dog's face and it either makes you smile or almost makes you cry. City Dog, Country Frog is an easy to read book that also teaches a bit of a lesson. It doesn't matter where you come friend or what you look like, we can all be friends. I think most elementary libraries would benefit from having his book on their shelf. I have to say that Mo Willems has done it again...another really great book!